Check out new resources and opportunities for you, Coach!
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LD Topic Voting Change for 2025-2026
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Beginning in 2025-2026, the LD Wording Committee will assign a set of two topics to each bi-monthly topic cycle instead of three. All potential topics for the year will be released in June after the National Tournament. One week prior to the topic being released for that topic cycle, member students and one chapter advisor per active school will vote on which of the topics they prefer. The topic that receives the most votes will be the topic for that cycle. The goal of moving to two topics per cycle is to create parity with Public Forum and ensure the chosen topic receives an overall majority of the votes.
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Last Chance to Register for the Last-Chance Qualifier!
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Did you know both of the 2024 LD finalists at Nationals qualified via the Last-Chance Qualifier? Your students could be next! This online event offers your students another opportunity to compete in their NSDA main event and possibly qualify for the National Tournament. Competition takes place online April 24-26. There are no entry fees! Register your students by Thursday, April 17. Details »
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Explore Professional Development Opportunities
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Take Free, Self-Paced Courses » Enroll in online courses on our NSDA Learn platform to explore the basics of new events, build your coaching skills, or consider ways to make your team more welcoming or inclusive. When you complete a course, you receive a certificate reflecting the PD hours earned for any continuing education or certification needs! Explore courses »
Get Accredited » Demonstrate your speech and debate expertise through our professional accreditation program! When you complete the self-paced online courses, you earn a new addition to your coaching resume. Accreditation demonstrates professionalism to your administration and is a mark of your commitment to speech and debate. Get accredited »
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Supplemental Events at Nationals
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Every member high school that participates in the district tournament series will have the opportunity to enter up to two students in supplemental events at the National Tournament! Students may compete in up to two supplemental speech events but no more than one event per pattern. Supplemental events include:
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Pattern A
- Extemp Commentary
- Original Spoken Word Poetry
- Prose
- Expository
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| Pattern B
- Impromptu
- Poetry
- Storytelling
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Read the Board Meeting Agenda
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The NSDA Board of Directors will meet April 25-26 in West Des Moines. We invite you to review the agenda and share any feedback at board@speechanddebate.org.
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District Award Winners Due April 16
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Chairs must report district award winners to us by Wednesday, April 16 for national award consideration! Each winner of the following district awards is entered into the running for the national-level award when we receive the reporting form from the district chair and the corresponding nomination form from a community member.
District deadlines vary! If you're not sure whether your district has selected a winner yet, please check with your chair and submit a nomination ASAP if they say there is still time!
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Hold Debates, Earn Money for Your Team
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If you have 10 students debate for 3 rounds each, you can earn $200 for your team. How? With Big Questions Debate! Big Questions (BQ) is a form of debate designed to open students’ minds and encourage them to engage in life discussion that may not align with their previously held beliefs. When you host a qualifying event, you earn money for your team! This is a great end of year activity to beef up your budget for next year or cover some end of season expenses. Learn more about the format or apply to host an event today!
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Grants Available for High School Teams Attending Nationals
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Are you and your team headed to Nationals? Apply for a grant from the Road to Nationals Fund founded by The William Woods Tate, Jr. Memorial Fund. These grants support high school teams who need financial assistance and can be used for food, travel, and lodging expenses. Grants range from $100 to $1,000, with average grants of $500.
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Reminder: Take the Survey and Enter to Win a Free School Membership
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Our membership survey helps shape our priorities for the coming school year and influences the resources, recognition, and competitive opportunities we offer. In 15 minutes, you can have your voice heard and enter to win. Three high school programs and three middle school programs will be randomly selected from all complete surveys submitted by Friday, May 2, at 11:59 p.m. CT to win free a free school membership for 2025-2026.
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If you are eligible to participate in our survey, you would have received an email on April 7 from info@speechanddebate.org via SurveyMonkey with the subject line Response Requested: 2025 NSDA Membership and Resource Survey. Be sure to check your spam folder! We hope you'll take the time to participate and share your perspective.
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Vote by April 30: District Leadership Election and Hall of Fame
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High School District Leadership Election: Each high school’s advisor may cast their vote by logging in to their NSDA Account and selecting NSDA Voting from the left-side menu. Results will be announced in early May, and elected leaders will need to confirm their acceptance of the position by the end of May. Read more about the election »
Hall of Fame Voting: The highest honor for any high school speech and debate coach is election to the NSDA Hall of Fame. Current Hall of Fame members and active coaches with three or more Diamond Awards may vote online to select this year’s inductees. To access the ballot, eligible coaches can log in to their NSDA Account and select NSDA Voting from the left side menu.
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Submit Extemp Question Ideas for Nationals by April 30
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Extemp enthusiasts are invited to submit questions for the 2025 NSDA National Tournament! Whether you're a competitor, coach, or alum, you’re welcome to contribute. You won’t know which questions make the final cut until Nationals. If yours are selected, great! If not, your team has some strong questions you've generated to use for practice. Please share this opportunity with your students—their insights bring fresh perspectives to Extemp.
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